By: Hannah Kim and Ashwini Bandi

The clocks fall back, the sky darkens before dinner, and suddenly, even getting out of bed feels harder. With the passing of summer and the arrival of winter, many students at Marriotts Ridge find themselves battling the fatigue of Seasonal Affective Disorder, more commonly known as SAD.

SAD is a type of depression that occurs when seasonal changes disrupt the body’s internal clock. Often called a light-affective disorder, it develops as shorter days and darker skies limit exposure to natural sunlight. This lack of light affects the brain’s production of serotonin and melatonin, which are hormones that regulate mood, energy, and sleep. For students, the effects can be especially taxing. Mornings feel heavier with exhaustion, motivation decreases during long school days, and concentration is lost as academic pressure intensifies.

“My first and second periods, I feel like I’m waking my students up. Earlier in the year, they had so much more energy” math teacher Mrs. Rossbach stated. Many students also notice the drop in energy and performance as the second marking period begins.

“My second quarter grades definitely go down because I lose the motivation to get up and do my work or even pay attention in class,” junior Morgan Miles said.

Teachers have also reported similar patterns in their grade books.

“Test scores decrease [and] the effort [students] putting in decreases. Usually, kids stop doing their homework” math teacher Ms. Barbieri noted.

Beyond the classroom, both Student Services and the health room have reported an increase in students seeking support, with more visits regarding panic attacks, heightened anxiety, and elevated heart rates, as reported by school nurse Ms. Rice. The change in daylight also coincides with the increased rigor in school. With content becoming more challenging and motivation dropping, grades often take a toll. Attendance also tends to drop during the colder months.

“Sometimes students just don’t come to school when they’re not feeling well… the high months tend to be October and March,” counselor Mrs. Wohnsigl explained.

When students miss school, they fall behind on assignments, which adds to their own academic stress. The burnout from school forces many students to cancel their after-school activities and leaves them little time to study. Despite these challenges, some students have found ways to combat seasonal fatigue.

“I try to stay energized by keeping active. I run and lift weights, so I can keep my energy up,” junior Emmie Ulloa said.

Others turn to more social approaches.

“Hanging out with my friends and doing work together helps me get that serotonin and motivation going,” Miles advised.

Another popular strategy is the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 30 minutes, taking a five-minute break, and then returning to work. This can help reduce burnout and boost focus.

Though Seasonal Affective Disorder can make the second quarter feel long and draining, there are ways for every student to fight the fatigue, stay motivated, and make it through the darker months with more light.